This
is one cookbook, regardless of the tantalizing recipes, that would also be at home
as a coffee table book. (It's that interesting to read!) Written and photographed by Chef Francois de
Melogue, Cuisine of the Sun captivates the reader, and
the reader’s taste buds, from the start.  |
| Chef de Melogue |
De
Melogue pulls on his 20+ years as a chef of cross-culture cuisine to tempt us
into trying our hand at his unique Mediterranean cooking style he calls
“Cuisine Actuelle,” where he focuses on the natural flavors of the dish. Chef de
Melogue has always had a love of food, wine and good times; friends nicknamed him Bacchus (after the Greek god of wine and merriment.)
De Melogue encourages the purchase of local ingredients from farmers markets and
artisan farms for these recipes. Food that is purchased in-season and freshly
picked simply tastes better, and the end result will astound.
But
this is not a cookbook for those in a hurry. If you want to get dinner on in 30
minutes or less, steer clear. There are no premixed, premeasured dishes here.
Chef de Melogue believes that cooking should take time and involve the senses,
the mind, and the soul.
 |
| Pistou - Vegetable, Bean and Pasta Soup |
On
the same note, if you can’t improvise a bit, maybe you should be exploring the
kitchen with Betty Crocker, not testing the culinary waters with Chef de
Melogue, who has little use for oversimplified recipes, or dishes. According to
de Melogue, “It’s ok to lose sight of the
shores and venture fearless in search of new lands. I learned by watching my
mother cook then trying, and failing, many times. It’s not how many times you
fall in life that count, but how many times you stand back up.”
Chef
de Melogue believes that food and emotions are strongly connected, so consider
this book his passionate love letter to audacious foodies everywhere. As Harriet
Van Horne said “Cooking is like love. It
should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”
And de Melogue is a man who is not afraid to live life to its fullest. He will
joyously turn a traditional recipe on its head, and create a flavorful
contemporary interpretation that astounds. The “Chef’s Notes” are invaluable.
It’s the equivalent of having your own personal chef in the kitchen offering
tips and tricks you didn’t know. 
This
is also a cookbook that shares a sense of place, yet timelessness, melding the traditional
flavors of the Mediterranean with culinary convolutions that seduce the gastronomer.
De Melogue’s writing style is composed of a bit of story telling with humorous,
honest, and at times, mischievous details as he let’s the reader in on
behind-the-scenes kitchen escapades at home, and in some of the most revered restaurants in
the U.S. and France.
But
Cuisine of the Sun is more than a cookbook. It
is also a labor of love, and skill. Chef de Melogue imagined this Mediterranean
cooking guide long before he launched his dream on KickStarter, a crowdfunding
site, in August of 2015. On the first day of the project, 12% of the requested
money was raised. Less than 10 days later, 60% of the financing was secured. By
September 4, less than 30 days into the campaign, a gratified de Melogue had his
financing for this spectacular book. |
| Roasted Beet Salad |
 |
| Maman's Apple Tart |
Peruse
the Table of Contents and home cooks, as well as chefs, will be ready to indulge
their foodie passions in the kitchen. Whether it’s the Roasted Beet Salad, a
Simple Roast Chicken, Beef Cheek Daube, or Maman’s Apple Tart, cooks will find
an honest approach, and delight in the recipes, which tempt and tantalize from
the pages of this book.
 |
| Chef Francois de Melogue |
De
Melogue’s book is a joy; the writing is personal and witty, the recipes superb,
and the photography stunning; he manages to capture little slices of life that appear to burst
from the page.
Julia
Child said it best, “No one is born a
cook, one learns by doing.” And with Chef de Melogue’s guiding hand, you
will learn from one of the best.
~ Joy
About the Author:
Francois de Melogue was born and raised in
Chicago, but spent his summers growing up near Marseilles, France where he
learned the culinary lifestyle of his family. De Melogue graduated at the top
of his class from the New England Culinary Institute in 1985, and has worked in
Provincial and pan-Mediterranean kitchens in France and the U.S. Check out his
blog, EatTillYouBleed.
Book Details:
Cuisine of the Sun: A Ray of
Sunshine on Your Plate
by
Francois de Melogue
Published
by
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